Siding construction



June 1957 L. G. MILES SIDING CONSTRUCTION Filed Feb. 2a, 1956 mul llllll IN VEN TOR. LAWRENCE 6. MILES Fig. 2 F/g. 3

ATTORNEYS United This invention relates generally to building construction,-

but has reference more particularly to siding construction for buildings of the dwelling type.

It has heretofore been proposed, as in the Herbes Patent No. 2,394,379, to provide a siding construction in which battens or laths are secured to sheathing in horizontal rows, and siding elements are butted against these battens and fastened to the sheathing by nails, the lower portions of the siding elements bearing upon and overhanging the battens of the next lower row.

Since the siding elements are relatively thin and are made of an asbestos-cement mixture, they are easily broken or subjected to damage in handling and during application thereof to the wall of the building. Moreover, individual elements are diflicult to remove, for replacement purposes, without disturbing or damaging adjacent elements.

The present invention has as its primary object, a system of siding construction, which, while similar in some respects, to that disclosed in the aforesaid Herbes patent, has a number of distinct advantages over such construction, and is considerably more practical for installation and other purposes.

Another object of the invention is to provide a siding construction in which a solid backing is provided for the lower portions of the siding elements, thereby preventing breakage of these elements by an inward push or hammer blow.

Another object of the invention is to provide a siding construction, in which the need for nailing the upper portions of the siding elements to the sheathing or battens is eliminated, the removal of single siding elements for replacement purposes is greatly facilitated, and the possibility of breakage or bending of such portions is avoided.

A further object of the invention is to provide a siding construction in which means are provided for automatically positioning all of the siding elements and battens or strips, thereby enabling apprentices and unskilled laborers to easily install the siding.

A further object of the invention is to provide a siding construction in which the driving of nails into and through the sheathing is reduced to a minimum, so as to preserve the insulating qualities of the sheathing.

A further object of the invention is to provide a siding construction, in which means are provided for effectively preventing the entrance of weathering elements into the spaces behind the siding elements.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a siding construction, in which means are provided for creating an illusion of considerable thickness of the siding elements, as well as for concealing the fact that the siding elements are backed by strips or battens.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent during the course of the following description. In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

Fig. 1 a fragmentary elevational view of siding conatom , 2,796,637 Patented June 25, 1957 struction embodying my invention, with portions thereof broken away to better illustrate certain features;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view, taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view, taken on the line 33 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of a portion of one of the strips used in the construction, and

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of one of the other strips used in the construction.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, a wall structure is shown comprising horizontally spaced studs 1, and sheathing 2 which is secured to the studs by any suitable means, and which, in this case, is made of a relatively soft material, such as composition board or the like.

The structure further includes siding elements 3, made of fiat boards of asbestos-cement, or the like, of uniform thickness throughout, and of greater length than width. In actual practice, these boards are usually 12 inches in height, 24 inches in length, and about thick, but these dimensions may be varied.

Commencing at the ground level, strips 4 of wood or the like, are secured, as by nails 5, to the sheathing 2, these nails being driven into the studs 1, so as to securely hold the strips in position. The strips 4 extend in a horizontal line, and are preferably at least 16 inches in length, so that a portion of each strip will overlie at least one of the studs 1, which studs are usually spaced at intervals of 16 inches.

The strips 4 are of substantial thickness and height, and are characterized by a horizontal upper edge 6, a vertical rear face 7 which lies in abutment with the sheathing 2, a front face 8 which is inclined to correspond with the inclination of the siding elements 3, and a bottom edge 9, which is inclined rearwardly and upwardly, for a purpose to be presently explained.

The lowermost course of siding elements 3 are then nailed to the strips 4, as by mean of nails 10, which are preferably short nails, which do not pierce the sheathing 2. Since the siding elements are made of a material, such as asbestos-cement, which can be easily fractured, it is preferable to provide holes in the elements at the time the elements are made or molded, through which holes the nails 10 pass. It will be noted that the siding elements are nailed to the strips 4 in such a manner that the lower edges of the siding elements are aligned with the lower edges 11 of the face 8 of the strips. The

lower edges 11 thus serve to automatically position the siding elements in their proper position, and since the siding elements lie against the faces 3 of the strips, the siding elements are automatically disposed at the proper inclination.

After all of the siding elements of the lowermost course ave been thus nailed to the strips 4, strips 12, of wood or the like, are positioned on the upper edges of the siding elements 3, in a manner to be now described. The strips 12 are similar in size, dimensions and general appear ance to the strips 4, and are characterized by a horizontal upper edge 13, a vertical rear face 14 which is adapted to lie in contiguity with the sheathing 2, a front face 15 which is inclined to correspond with the inclination of the siding elements 3, and a bottom edge 16, which is inclined rearwardly and upwardly for a purpose to be presently explained. There is, however, one distinction between the strips 12 and the strips 4, and which con sists in providing, in the lower rear portion of the strips 12, a recess or notch 17, which is of a depth substantially equal to the thickness of the siding elements 3, this recess or notch having a horizontal upper edge 18, and a forward wall 19, which is substantially parallel with the face 15.

The strips 12 are positioned on the upper edges of the lowermost course of siding elements 3'in such-a'mann'er that'theedges 18 of these strips bear on the upper edges of said siding'elements, the 'walls19of the strips engage the faces of these siding elements, and the faces 14 of the strips lie against the sheathing 2, 'Since the walls '19 are inclined to correspond with the inclination of the siding elements and engage the faces of these siding elements, the strips 12 serve to maintain the siding elements' at their proper inclination. 'Moreover, the siding elements serve to automatically properly position-the strips 12, enabling an apprentice or-unskilledlaborerto position the strips, without measuring instruments, levels, tapes or other tools.

w Afiterthe strips are positioned in the foregoing manner, they are secured, as by nails 29,-to the sheathing 2, these nails being driven into the studs'l, soas to securelyhold the strips in position. The strips -12-extend'in ahorizontal-line, and are preferably at leastl6 inches in'length, so that a portion of each, strip will overlie at least one of the studs 1, which studs, as previously stated,"are usually spaced at intervals of 16 inches.

Itfmay benoted, at this. point, that the nailsi20, which securethe strips 12 to the sheathing and studs, do not pass, through the upper portions of the siding elements. Thus, the upper portions of the sid ng elements are held or locked in position, without any fastening elements, such as nails, and solely by the strips 12. This is a distinctladvantage, in that it enables a defective or worn siding element to be quickly removed by merely pulling its lower edge away from the strips 4, along with thesecuring nails 5, and then slipping the siding element downwardly and out of the recess or notch 17.

After the strips 12 have been secured in position, the next course of siding elements 3 is then nailed to the strips 12, as by means of nails 21, which are preferably short nails, which do not pierce the sheathing 2. These siding elements are nailed to thestrips 12in such a manner that the lower edgesof the siding elements are aligned with the lower edges ZZ'ofthefa'ces 14 of the strips, so that these edges 14 serve'to automatically position the siding elements in their proper position, and since the "siding elements lie against the faces '14 of the strips, the siding elements are automatically disposed at the proper inclination.

After all of'the siding elements of the second course have been thus nailed to the strips 12, similar strips'12 are positioned on the upper edges of said siding elements in the same manner that the strips 12 were positioned on the lowermost course of siding elements, and the construction proceeds in like manner until all of the siding has been applied. Further description of such construction is therefore believed to be unnecessary.

Among the advantages of the foregoing construction, the following may be enumerated:

-(a) Since the lower portions of the siding elements are in engagement over their entire'area, with the strips 4 and 1 2 and extend to the lowermost edges of'these strips, these strips provide a solid backingfor these portions of the siding elements, thus preventing children or others with malicious intent, from breaking off or bending the siding elements by an inward push or hammer blow. This is particularly important, because these siding elements, being thin, and made of an asbestos-cement mixture, are fairly brittle, and capable of being easily bent or broken. This is in contrast to the structure shown in the aforesaid Herbes patent, in which the siding elements overhang the battens, permitting them to be easily broken, especially since there is only a line contact between the shingles and battens.

(b) This method of construction eliminates the'need for nailing the upper portions of the siding elements to the sheathing or strips, and thus not only renders easy the removal of single siding elements in the manner above described, but also eliminates the possibility of breakage or bending of the upper portions of the siding elements.

In' the Herbes'pat'eiit, nails 16 aroused to secure the upper portions of the siding elements to the sheathing, and since the siding elements are at an inclination, the possibility of breakage of the siding elements during such nailing operation is self-evident.

(c) This method of construction, as already stated, provides means for automatically positioning all of the siding elements and strips, thus enabling unskilled laborers to install the siding. V V

(d) The driving of nails into and through the sheathing, which is usually a relatively softmaterial, and serves as insulation, is reduced to a minimum. The insulation properties of the sheathing is thus maintained at a maximum.

(e) The notches 17 and their relatively large area of contact with the siding elements provides a barrier against the entrance of 'rain, water, moisture, snow and other weathering elements into the spaces bchindthe siding elements.

(f) The bevel surfaces 9 and 16 of thestrips 4 and 12 respectively serve a dual purpose. They create an illussion that the siding elements are as thick as the combined thickness of the siding elements and the strips, and also conceal the fact that the siding elements are backed by strips or battens. If desired, these edges 9 and 16- It is to be understood that the form of my invention,

herewith shown and-described, is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to, without departing from the spirit of my invention, or the scope of the subjoined claim.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

A siding construction comprising sheathing, a row of Wood strips'each having 'a rearface-parallel with said sheathing and a front face inclined at an inclination corresponding to the desired inclination'of siding elements which are attached thereto; stud-members, and nails securing said strips to said sheathing and said sheathing to the stud members, a'row of siding elements'having their lower portions bearing against said inclined front faces and extending to at least the lower edges of said front faces, said lower portions concealing said nails, nails-securing said lower portions of said siding elements to said strips, said last'named nails extending only into said strips, a'second row of wood strips havingrecesses in their lower rear p'ortions in which the upper ends of said siding elements are received in abutment with the upper edges of said siding elements, said last-named 0nd row of strips and extending to at least the lower edges of the front faces of said second row of strips, and concealing said last-named nails, and nails securing the lower portions of said second row of siding elements to said second. row of strips, said last-named nails extending only into said second row of strips.

, References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,394,379 Herbes Feb. 5, 1946 2,648,103 .Wahlfeld "Aug. 11, 1953 'Gollner DecQZO, '1955 

